Lamp housing for sorting machines



Jan. 14, 1941. c, cox 2,228,559

LAMP HOUSING FOR SOR'IING MACHINES Filed Aug, 6, 1938 f Li [5 J 4 40 443 33 J/ INVENTOR 54 Oar/'0 6. (0x

Jan Q agzs ssa'fl'. f

I e 893m David 0. 0oz, Lowell; rfih.,usimor m niature I Sorting Machinecompany, qrandfRapids,

en-- ap lication -Au it reeds- .1

This invention relates to improvements in lamp housings for sortingmachines. The main objects of myinvention are: "*1

First, to provide a .new' and improvedla'mpi housing for use in anelectric'sorting machine to illuminate articles'to besorted.

Second, to provide a housing of thetype' described having provision formounting anilluminatinglamp and a. pair of photoelectric viewingdevices. v f

Third, to provide a lamphousingof the type described having provisionfor uniformly and 'effectively illuminating articles at "a viewing andjudging station and provided with reference background means of novelandimproved construction.

" 1 Fourth, to provide a lamp housing whichis inf ternally in the formof an ellipsoid having a viewrefle'ctedfrom saidarticles-prior toimpinge of the reflected light on light 'sen'sitiv, viewing thereof. v Yv Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryview partiallyxbroken ,away and in section,further illustrating details:

' ticular; this application relates 'toapparatus for illuminating aseries of moving articles etc. view ing stationat one focus thereof andilluminating means at the other focus thereof, there being means forcausing light" emanating-from said;

illuminating means to be uniformly 'spread over an article at theviewing station.

Fifth, to provide'a lamp-housing hav g a view-' ing stationand areference bac 'qu diadiacent the viewing station, the -said-gbaekgr"adjustable for a purpose to b'e describe Sixth, to provide illumli'iatlng' and 1, I device having improved provisi refocusing lighton anarticle to be Jud'getifarni p v .strumentalities for focusing and-fllte' means.

I Further: objects relating and jeconoj-t' miesof my invention willdeilnitely appea rom *thedescription-to follow. The inventi'on is'vd'ianeum the claims. structure em d i st nation is iillustratedining,wherein: '2';

Fig. 1 is fragmentary -view'ofi' the improved housing and referencebackground ofrmy inven tion, the housing beihg partlally brokenaaway-and V illustrate details, of construction;-

in section to of construction'of my device.

Thepresentinventionisa continuationin part of my LettersPatent'Nm2,190,935, issued February'20, IMO, for Sorting machines. --In paringpoint in. the most effectivemannerand for i point.,- -$uch shadows tendto affect the operation ,th i -same c iii' br h ne, .ttnesamelengthwise. 45

gph' ltoelect'rically' viewingthesaid articlesat that If r poinh Broadlyconsidered, the invention consists m lamp' housingiwhich isjgenerallyellipsoidal 'fin'internalgoutline'i-having a light, source; at one focusthereoijand' having the-other focuslocated i'nithe line of movement of{said s'eries'of articles.

I- have found that by forming the internal wall;

of the housing 'ellipsoidallas described it is possible to illuminatethe articles very eflectlvely. IL, have further found that whentheshap'e' is thati .01 a perfect ellipsoid the rays of light emanatingirom"the;lightcsourceand reflected from the housing-wall converge ontothe article, impinging the-nearsuriace of the later in the form ofvconvergingsmallpoints or dots of light, result- 15 ing in a very intenseillumination o'fthe surface of the article on the side a'ijacent thelight source.

A more satisfactorytype oi illumination is secured when thereilectedrays are in the form of 'parallelZsided-beams impingingthe article to 20I produce areasfof light,"overlapping one another on the surface of thearticle. -'Il iis causes the article to-be more uniformly illuminatedand results in elimination ofi objectionable'shadows cast on .areference background -when'the'light rays are 25 focused-sharply andimpinge the, article at a hotoelectric. viewing means, causing thesomefinstances to record as a dark or mperfictarticle'what is in fact aperfect one. so

'Moreover, a too intense illumination of the suraee'oi' the article isto be "avoided, since it tends overcome the effect produced on aphoto-tube y a smalldark spot on. the article. j

The invention'also includes the provision of a 35 eierence backgroundimmediately adjacent and 'to'jtherear of theiairticles being sorted withref-i rence' topthe*so,urce-of illumination, this referencebackgroundbeing in the form of opposed jxinclilnedgsurfaces'"dfg suitable colorand being 0 pacecxrrom oneanother only sufllciently to providejroomiorthepassageof article seats on a .heel.' Sai'd members are arcuate inhave provision thereon for adjusting g1err ing to the drawing, thereference numeraifltin general indicates the lamp housing of myinvention which is situated adjacent the periphery of a vacuum operatedarticle carrying or conveyor wheel 2, the said wheel being cham go beredand provided with a plurality of elongated 'articlecarrying seats 3which .arein the form of hollow tubes communicating with the interior ofthe wheel. This wheel is connected toa source of vacuum (not shown) forthe purpose of picking up articles by suction from a suitable hopper(not shown) and transporting the same to and through housing I. Adjacentthe periphery of wheel 2 I provide the reference backgrounds which aregenerally indicated by the reference numeral 4 and will be moreparticularly described hereinafter.

The housing is generally ellipsoidal in shape internally thereof havingone focus of the ellipsoid located at an article viewing station 5 inthe path of movement of the articles 6, in this case beans. The axis ofthe ellipsoid is normal to the periphery of wheel 2. At the other focusI locate a suitable lamp I in a fitting 8 which is disposed in anelongated tubular holder or socket member 9 integral with the housing.The leads ID supply current for illuminating the lamp.

The housing I consists of a pair of shells II, I2 preferably formed by adie casting operation, the annular meeting edges of which are stepped asindicated at I3 so as to form a. close lightsealing fit between theshells in operative assembled position. By reference to Figs. 1 and'2,it will be seen that the interior of housing I is not perfectlyellipsoidal in nature, but is only roughly so, inasmuch as throughoutits inner surface housing I has a number of flat internal facets I4 incircumferentially and axially spaced arrangement, each of the facetshaving secured thereto, as by cementing, a reflecting member or mirrorI5. These mirrors have the outer lens convex surface thereof preferablyparabolic in form to cause light to be reflected back on the article 6in the form of a parallel-sided beam. In Fig. 1 the broken linesIS'illustrate the manner in which the center elements of these beams arereflected from the mirrors onto'the article. However, it will beunderstood that in actuality the said beams overlap one anotherconsiderably and bathe the entire surface of the article, except thatportion in contact with the seat 3, with a uniform illumination, thuseliminating both shadows on the reference background and unduly intenseillumination on the near side of the bean, either of which might causeerror in the photoelectric judging of the bean, as explained above; Asuitable opaque mask I1 is disposed across the inner side of lamp 1 toshield the article from direct illumination by the lamp.

Housing I is provided on either side of the lamp receiving member 9 withan integral counterbored viewing holder IB wherein is disposed focusingand filtering means, generally indicated I9, for the light reflectedfrom the articles to the photo-tube 20. This last named means consistsof an elongated cylindrical tube 2| extending through bore 22 in holderI8 and having an annular flange 23 fitting in the counterbored portion24 of the holder. Tube 2| is provided with an elongated lid 25 on theside thereof adjacent lamp 1 to prevent entry of direct light from thelamp into the tube. A suitable double convex lens 26 is disposed in theviewing tube. It will be understood that the said viewing tube and lensare in alinement with the articles 6 at the viewing station and thephoto-sensitive device 20.

Within the counterbore 24 and spaced from flange 23 by a gasket 21, Imount a suitable color filter 28 and I secure the same in mountedposition by means of an externally threaded thimble 29 threadedlyengaging the interior of holder I8, the said thimble being aperturedcentrally. A second gasket 30 is interposed between the same and thefilter.

As stated, there are two focusing and filtering means I9, one on eitherside of the lamp. The filters 28 thereof are preferably different incolor from one another whereby the relative color reflectivity of thearticles may beanalyzed on the basis of a plurality of color componentsif desired. In my copending application, Serial No. 222,787, filedAugust 3, 1938, I disclose a machine for performing a sorting operationon the basis of the relative intensity of a plurality of colorconstituents. If such operation is not desired, filters 28 may be of thesame color, in which case the presence of a pair of viewing meansdirected at the article from opposite sides thereof assures that thewhole surface of the article is scrutinized. The choice of the color ofthe filters of course depends upon which color constituents of the lightreflected from the articles it is desired to intercept.

The shells I2 of housing I are secured together by screws 3| extendingthrough ears 32 on shell I2 and into shell I I, and the said housing, atthe holders I8 thereof, is in communication with the usual light-tightenclosure or box 33 for the photo-tube 20, agasket 34 being interposed.'

In the side of housing I adjacent conveyor wheel 2 I provide a pair ofalined openings 35 constituting a passageway for the articles 6 on thewheel. These openings are located between the outspread bosses or feet36 integral with shell I2 and curved in conformity with the convexoutline of the reference background 4.

The reference background 4 consists of a pair jof arcuate members 31which are triangular in section and are adapted to be positionedrelative to housing I in the manner indicated in the drawing, i. e.,withthe outer side and convex surfaces thereof disposed against thehousing, which housing is cut away at 38 to receive members 31. Themembers are adjustably secured to the housing feet 36 by means, of setscrews 39 extending through elongated countersunk slots 40 in themembers and threadedly engaging the feet. The inner or convex side 4|,of the background members which is adjacent the inside of the housing ispainted a suitable shade such as white or, gray, depending on the typeof articles being sorted. These colored or reference background surfaces4| are in angled relation as illustrated in Fig. 2, being inclinedradially relative to wheel 2 and inwardly of the sides thereof. Thetheoretical meeting line of the surfaces constitutes a plane in whichthe illuminating means I is substantially disposed. By adjustablymounting members 31 in the manner described, it is possible to shift thesame circumferentially a considerable distance, which is helpful in theevent a certain portion thereof becomes. discolored or dirty and it isdesired to remove the discolored portion from immediately adjacent theviewing station 5 or in the event it is desired to have selectedreference backgrounds of different colors. To facilitate suchrepositioning of the members, I provide a plurality of spring urged balldetents generally indicated 42 in recesses 43 in housing I, the saiddetents cooperatingwith depressions 44 in the outer sides of thebackground members so that the latter may be shifted a predetermineddistance if desired and then locked in adjusted position. In practice, Iprovide three such recesses or depressions 44. v

It will be appreciated that if it is desired to change from a referencebackground of one shade or color used in sorting one type of article toa background of another shade or color better suited for use in sortinga different type-of article, it is only necessary to loosen set screws39 holding the arcuate members 31 in position and transport the articlesin substantially spaced relation to the conveyor wheel, i. e.,sufficiently above the surfaces ll of the reference background that theproduction of shadows is eliminated. This result is in turn furthered bythe manner in which the beams of light from the reflecting surfaces iiare focused on the articles. It is desirable that the efiect viewed bythe phototube should be one of a series of unsupported, uniformlyilluminated articles traversing a predetermined path and not be affectedby dark spots or shadows, suchas are sometimes occasioned by the articlesupporting means or by "shadows from the articles on the referencebackthe seats may be painted the same coloras the reference backgroundto still further insure against a factor likely to cause an erroneousjudgment of the articles by the photo-tubes. What is more, the arcuatebackground members 31 are spaced from one another only sufficiently topermit passage of seats 3, thus extending the desired background behindthe articles as much as posible and avoiding variables likely toaffectthe operation of the photo-tube viewing means.

I desire to call attention to the fact that in my structure the housingI and reference background 4 are inoperative relation fixedly thoughadjustably mounted relative to one another. They constitute a viewingunit which is the entire judging instrumentality of my invention. Byproviding such a-unitaryconstruction, I obviate the difficulty ofassembling a separate viewing housing with a separate, background meansand the attendant difficulties of locating and maintaining the same inproper position relative to one another. Moreover, the parts are simplein nature and readily assembled and mounted on a sorting machine and donot require constant checking and adjusting of the optical accuracythereof.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichis very practical. I have not attempted toillustrate or describe otherembodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enablethose skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may bedesired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An illuminating housing for a photoelectric article sorting machinecomprising a housing having a passage adapted to permit articles to betransported therethrough, a pair of arcuate reference backgroundmembersadjustably connected to said housing adjacent said passage andextending into the housing on either side of the path of travel ofarticles therethrough, the ar cuate outline of said members conformingto the If desired,

periphery of an-articlecarryingwheel disposed adjacent the same totransport articles in an arcuate path through the housing passage, meansfor shifting said: members lengthwise whereby to alter 'the surfacethereof exposed within the housing, said members having inclinedbackground surfaces converging toward and terminating closely adjacentthepath of;travel of the articles on the side thereof, illuminatingmeans in the housing, a plurality of'mirrors secured to the interior ofthe housing for reflecting light from said illuminatingmeans on thearticles andi'saidinclined surfaces in the form of overlappingsubstantially parallel-sided beams, whereby to unimembers and ala'rgeproportion of the surface of said articles, and means in' said housingfor viewingjthe soilluminat'ed articles and'reference backgroundmembers. x

2. An illuminating housing for a photoelectric article sorting machinecomprising" a housing having a passage adapted to permit articles to betransported therethrough,a pairof arcuate reference background membersconnected to said housing adjacent said; passage and extending into thehousing on either side of the path of travel of articles-therethrough,the arcuate outline of said members conforming to the periphery of anarticlecarryz'ng wheel'disposed adjacent the sameto transportarticles inan arcuate path through the housing passagesaid members having inclinedbackgroundsurfaces converging toward and terminating closely adjacentthe path of travel of the articles on the side thereof, illuminatingmeans inJthe-housing; and means in the housingfor reflecting light fromsaid illuminating means on the articles and said inclined surfaces inthe form of overlapping subformly illuminate. saidreferenceabackgroundstantially parallel-sided beams, whereby to uniarticle sorting machinecomprising a housing having a passage adapted to permit articles to betransported therethrough in'an arcuate path, an arcuate referencebackground member adjustably connected to said housing adjacent saidpassage and disposed adjacentone side of said path, the arcuate outlineof said member conforming to the arcuate path of travel of the articles,means in said housing for illuminating articles transportedtherethrough. and said reference background member, means in the housingarranged to view said articles and said member, and meansfor shiftingsaid member. lengthwise whereby to alter the surface thereof exposedwithin the housing, said member having an inclined background surfacedisposed at an angle to the line of View of said viewing-means. l

4. In a photoelectric sorting machine, a rotary riphery of said wheeland located closely adjacent the seats on opposite sides of the path oftravel of the-articles through said passage, .meansfor connecting saidbackground members to said housing for longitudinal adjustment thereof,and means in said housing for reflecting a plurality of converging,parallel-sided, overlapping beams of light from said illuminating meanson said articles and background members, ,said elonthe periphery of saidwheel and located closely adjacent the same in the housing andcloaelyad- Jacent and on opposite sides of the path of traver of the articlesin the housing, illuminating and viewing means disposed in said housingfor simultaneously illuminating and viewing the articles and backgroundmembers, and means for connecting said background members to saidhousing for longitudinal adjustment thereof.

6. An article illuminating and viewing housing having the interiorthereof substantially in the form of an ellipsoid, means for transport-Zing articles through one focus of said ellipsoid,

and illuminating means at the other focus thereof, said housing having aplurality of reflecting members having convex lenses secured thereto incircumferential and axially spaced arrangement whereby to reflect lightfrom said illuminating means toward said articles in the'form of aplurality of substantially parallel-sided overlapping beams. 1 p

7. An illuminating and viewing device for a photoelectric sortingmachihecomprising a housing having a source of illumination therein and theinterior surface thereof being provided with a plurality of reflectingmembers adapted to reflect light emanating from the sourceoffillumination toward a viewing station in the housing in the form ofparallel-sided beams, a pair of reference background members adjacentsaid station disposed on opposite sides of articles at said station andadapted to be illuminated with said articles by light from said sourceof illumination, means in said housing arranged to view articles at thestation and said background members, and means for adjustably securingsaid background members to said housing for longitudinal ad-,* justmentrelative thereto, said members havingmutually inclined faces converiitoward the stations whereby to furnish suitable backgrounds for viewingarticles at the viewing station from a plurality of angles.

8. An illuminating and viewing device for a photoelectric sortingmachine comprising a lamp housing having a source of illumination, saidhousing being provided with an interior reflecting surface adapted toreflect light emanating from the source of illumination in the housingtoward an article at a viewing station therein, a refer ence backgroundmember in the housingadjacent said station illuminated by lightreflected from said reflecting surface, means for viewing saidbackground member and an article adjacent the same, and means foradjustably securing said background member to said housing forlongitudinal adjustment of a portion of its surface in the housingrelative to the latter.

9. In combination, a lamp housing having article illuminating means andarticle viewing means therein for illuminating and viewing articles atan illuminating station in the housing,

and a pair of reference background members adjustably secured toand-extending into said housing for longitudinal movement relativethereto, said members being disposed adjacent said station and beingilluminated and viewed with said articles by said means, each of saidmembers having a surface provided with predetermined diflerently coloredareas arranged longitudinally of the members whereby selectivelongitudinal adjusting movement of the members exposes said areasselectively to the interior of said housing, said surfaces beinginclined and disposed in converging relation on opposite sides of thearticles whereby to expose the surfaces to viewing by said. viewingmeans from different points at difl'erent angles.-

10. In combination, a lamp housing having article illuminating andviewing means therein for illuminating and viewing an article in apredetermined station in the housing, and reference background membersadiustably secured to and extending into said housing for longitudinalmovement relative thereto, said members being disposed on opposite sidesof said station and having a background surface provided withpredeterminedfdiflerently colored areas arranged longitudinally of themembers whereby selective longitudinal adjusting movement of the membersselectively exposes said areas to be illuminated and viewed with anarticle at the station by said illuminating and viewing means.

11. An article illuminating and viewing housing having the interiorthereof provided with a reflecting surface substantially in the form ofan ellipsoid, article illuminating means at one focus" of saidellipsoid, means for transporting articles to be viewed through theother focus of the ellipsoid, article viewing means disposed uniformlyat either side of said illuminating means and arranged to view articlesilluminated by said 11- luminating means, each of said viewing meanscomprising a photo-sensitive element. and a lens for focusing lightreflected from said articles on saidelement, and diflerently coloredfilters for said photo-sensitive elements disposed between said lensesand said elements.

.12. An article illuminating and viewing housing having articleilluminating means therein, means for transporting. articlesto be viewedthrough the housing, article viewing. means disposed in said andarranged] to view articles illuminated-1 by the-illuminating means,

th form of an ellipsoidjand provided with a plurality'of reflectingmembers having convex lens surfacesjadapted to reflect light impingingthe samein tnjerorm of a plurality of parallel-sided-beam's,,article-lliuminating means at one focus of .tneiiousin, fortransporting articles to be viewed through another focus of theellipsoid, and view.- neans in the housing arranged to view illuminatedat said other focus.

14. An illuminating and viewing housing having "interior thereofsubstantially in the form of an ellipsoid and provided with a resaidviewing means eamprising, apluraiity of,

. -iight reflected said, on said elements;

sm differently so having the 'interiortherepf substantiallyin fleetingsurface, article illuminating means at one focus of said ellipsoid,means for supporting articles to be viewed at the other focus of theellipsoid, article viewing means disposed in said housing and arrangedto view articles illuminated at said other focus, said viewing meanscomprising a pair of light-sensitive elements, means for focusing lightreflected from said articles on said elements; and differently coloredfilters for saidlight-sensitive elements.

15. An illuminating housing for a photoelectric sorting machine,comprising a housing having a passage permitting articles to betranslated therethrough, illuminating and viewing means inthe housing, arotary article transporting member mounted adjacent the housing andhaving means for holding articles on the peripheral surface thereof, anda reference background comprising a pair of members disposed in thehousing on opposite sides of the path of travel of the article throughthe housing, said members having inclined background surfaces convergingtoward one another in the direction of said surface and from the sidesof the transporting member, said surfaces terminating adjacent said pathof travel and adapted to be illuminated by said illuminating means andviewed with said articles by said viewing means, said illuminating meansbeing disposed substantially in the plane including the meeting line ofsaid surfaces.

16. In combination, a lamp housing having article illuminating means andarticle viewing means therein for illuminating and viewing articles at astation in .the'housing, and a reference background member adjustablysecured to and extending into said housing for longitudinal movementtherein, said member having a surface provided with areas of differentcolor arranged longitudinally of the member and, adapted to beselectively exposed interiorly of the housing'by longitudinal adjustmentof the member, and article transporting means adapted to transportarticles through the housing adjacent said member to be illuminated andviewed with the latter at said station .in the housing by saidilluminating and viewing means.

DAVID C. COX.

